09-05-2011, 01:10 PM
Commonwealth 10000m gold medallist, Grace Momanyi, is the latest addition to a strong women's line up for the Bupa Great Manchester Run on May 15.
Momanyi will be bidding to add another prestigious British road racing title to her name after victories in the 2008 Bupa Great Yorkshire Run and last autumn's Bupa Great South Run.
"I'm sure Grace, just as she did with her Bupa Great South Run victory in Portsmouth, will enjoy the a fast and virtually flat course suiting her front running style," said Peter Riley, the meeting's elite athletes' coordinator.
"She's already shown solid form this year, highlighted by her third place in the recent Lisbon half marathon, where she destroyed her personal best time by almost two minutes.
"That clearly shows there is plenty of strength in her legs and we know from her Commonwealth win in Delhi she has plenty of speed."
The 29-year-old Kenyan will join an international field for the 10k race including fellow African Berhane Adere, who will be chasing a third Manchester success.
On her last appearance in Manchester, the Ethiopian star posted a still intact national and course record of 31 minutes 7 seconds.
Top Europeans who have entered include Frenchwoman Christelle Daunay, who beat off the challenge of Paula Radcliffe for third place when the world marathon record holder last competed at the 2009 New York Marathon and Sara Moreira, Portugal's Europe's 5000m silver medallist.
The BBC Two televised event will also include Anna Incerti, the Italian who finished runner up in last summer's European marathon, with the possibility a couple of other names shortly being added to the field.
The withdrawal of Radcliffe, recovering from a chest and throat infection, will leave European Indoor 3000m gold medallist Helen Clitheroe and teenager Charlotte Purdue, winner of last month's SPAR Great Ireland Run, to head the domestic challenge.
Both returned last week from a high altitude training camp and will be hoping the benefits will help them attain a podium finish.
Momanyi will be bidding to add another prestigious British road racing title to her name after victories in the 2008 Bupa Great Yorkshire Run and last autumn's Bupa Great South Run.
"I'm sure Grace, just as she did with her Bupa Great South Run victory in Portsmouth, will enjoy the a fast and virtually flat course suiting her front running style," said Peter Riley, the meeting's elite athletes' coordinator.
"She's already shown solid form this year, highlighted by her third place in the recent Lisbon half marathon, where she destroyed her personal best time by almost two minutes.
"That clearly shows there is plenty of strength in her legs and we know from her Commonwealth win in Delhi she has plenty of speed."
The 29-year-old Kenyan will join an international field for the 10k race including fellow African Berhane Adere, who will be chasing a third Manchester success.
On her last appearance in Manchester, the Ethiopian star posted a still intact national and course record of 31 minutes 7 seconds.
Top Europeans who have entered include Frenchwoman Christelle Daunay, who beat off the challenge of Paula Radcliffe for third place when the world marathon record holder last competed at the 2009 New York Marathon and Sara Moreira, Portugal's Europe's 5000m silver medallist.
The BBC Two televised event will also include Anna Incerti, the Italian who finished runner up in last summer's European marathon, with the possibility a couple of other names shortly being added to the field.
The withdrawal of Radcliffe, recovering from a chest and throat infection, will leave European Indoor 3000m gold medallist Helen Clitheroe and teenager Charlotte Purdue, winner of last month's SPAR Great Ireland Run, to head the domestic challenge.
Both returned last week from a high altitude training camp and will be hoping the benefits will help them attain a podium finish.